‘Biggest Loser’ stars kick off weight-loss challenge in Tecumseh

Two contestants from “The Biggest Loser” will help Tecumseh kick off its weight loss challenge Jan. 29.

Marci and Courtney Crozier, who appeared on the 11th season of “The Biggest Loser,” are a mother-daughter duo from Schererville, Ind. While at “the ranch,” where the show is filmed, Marci lost 86 pounds and Courtney lost 110 pounds.

“[The presentation] truly has a lot to do with what I learned from Courtney on the ranch. We kinda play off each other a little bit and we’re gonna talk about some future things that Courtney’s doing,” said Marci, who works at a health club.

The Kick Off the Weight program at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) starts the Tecumseh Community Weight Loss Challenge. This is the third year that Tecumseh has done the challenge, hosted by Tecumseh Parks and Recreation, said Kathy Field, operations director for the TCA. Last year, about 60 participants lost more than 600 pounds. So far, about 100 people have signed up.

The kickoff event will feature a light Subway lunch, area fitness club representatives who will offer discounts to participants, Zumba, Jazzercise and kickboxing demonstrations.

“We’re hoping it’s a win-win for everybody and sooner or later, I’m gonna get my butt down to parks and rec [to join the challenge],” Field said. This year’s challenge will end with an awards ceremony April 27.

Before even going on “The Biggest Loser,” Courtney began her own weight loss challenge.

“I was sad. I’ve never been a sad girl and I knew I had to make a change,” she said. “At the rate that I was going, I was going to die.”

On her 21st birthday, Courtney, who at her heaviest was 435 pounds, made the commitment to lose weight and lost 112 pounds on her own.

Courtney, who had tried out for the show’s 9th season, called participating in the 11th season “the greatest experience of my life.”

Marci was a little less excited about joining “The Biggest Loser.”

“I had a little bit of fear motivation that turned into real motivation. It was scary. It took a lot of courage, and it takes courage for any change,” she said, adding with a laugh that “standing in front of America in my bra and underwear, that was scary.”

Business at the health club has picked up for Marci and Courtney also has exciting new prospects. The Indiana University Northwest student plans to open a frozen yogurt shop and start her own nonprofit, SMYLE (Start Marking Your Life Extraordinary). The 12-week program will help preteens and teens who want to make a life change.

Marci and Courtney also offered a few tips for trimming waistlines:

Walk it off. “Walking makes the biggest difference in the world,” Courtney said. She recommended buying a pedometer and setting a goal for how many steps to walk each day.

Eat breakfast. “I was one that didn’t eat breakfast, and people say it is the most important meal and it is the most important meal,” Marci said, adding that eating breakfast is important for your metabolism.

Eat protein with every meal or snack. “If you have an apple, add a piece of string cheese,” Courtney said. “It will keep sugar levels in check so you don’t get as hungry.”

The pair also stressed that losing weight in real life is different than on TV. “It’s not what everyday people would do to lose weight,” Courtney said. “That’s why a lot of people leave the show and gain weight.”

She advocated not giving up if you have an “off day.”

“It took me a while and I still have days where I’m a little off balance. Even if you get off, you can always get right back on track,” she said.

Kick Off the Weight begins at 1 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts, 400 N. Maumee St.,

Tecumseh. Admission is $5 for challenge participants and $10 for general admittance. Call (517) 423-6617 or visit http://thetca.org/ for more information.